Tollinton Market is really two different markets that share one name and one history. The first is a restored Victorian-era heritage building on Mall Road. The second is a busy, working bazaar on Jail Road known today as New Tollinton Market. This guide covers both, in full, so you never have to wonder which one you need.
What Is Tollinton Market?
Tollinton Market is one of Lahore’s oldest and most recognizable market names. It started life in 1864 as a colonial exhibition hall on Mall Road. Over more than 150 years, the name has stretched to cover a heritage site, a relocated commercial bazaar, and an entire road in central Lahore.
Today, when locals say “Tollinton Market,” they usually mean the birds, pets, and meat market on Jail Road, not the original building near the Lahore Museum.
History of Tollinton Market Lahore
The story of Tollinton Market Lahore begins with an exhibition, not a market.
On January 20, 1864, the Punjab Exhibition of Arts and Industry opened on Mall Road, inaugurated by Lieutenant Governor Robert Montgomery. The building was designed by Francis Fowkes of the Royal Engineers, using a prefabricated iron-and-glass style borrowed from London’s exhibition halls. Construction was overseen by Assistant Commissioner Henry Phillips Tollinton, and the building eventually took his name.
After the exhibition closed, the hall held Lahore’s early museum collection until the present-day Lahore Museum opened across the road in 1894. In the 1920s, municipal engineer Sir Ganga Ram remodeled the empty hall into a covered public market. It grew into one of Lahore’s busiest fruit, vegetable, and general goods bazaars for decades.
By the mid-20th century, the building had started to deteriorate. Traders began drifting away through the 1980s, and in 1992 the Lahore Development Authority built a dedicated new market complex on Jail Road. This became New Tollinton Market, absorbing the poultry, meat, bird, and pet trade that Lahoris now associate with the name.
Back on Mall Road, the original building faced demolition plans in the 1990s. A five-year campaign (1993–97), led by the Lahore Conservation Society along with artists and civil society groups, saved the structure.
Restoration work followed in the early-to-mid 2000s, and the building reopened as a heritage exhibition space, closely linked to the National College of Arts (NCA), that today hosts craft bazaars and art shows.
Old Tollinton Market vs. New Tollinton Market Lahore
Because people often search for both markets together, here’s a side-by-side comparison.
| Feature | Old Tollinton Market | New Tollinton Market Lahore |
| Built | 1864 | 1992 |
| Location | Mall Road, next to Lahore Museum | Jail Road, near Ferozepur Road junction |
| Function today | Heritage exhibition hall, craft bazaar | Working birds, pets, poultry & meat market |
| Best for | History, architecture, exhibitions | Bulk poultry, meat, birds, and pets |
| Atmosphere | Quiet, restored colonial building | Busy, commercial, hands-on bazaar |
New Tollinton Market Lahore: What You’ll Find on Jail Road
This is the Tollinton Market most visitors mean, and it earns its reputation as one of Lahore’s most distinctive markets.
Across roughly 300 shops, traders sell:
- Live chickens, with on-site butchering
- Mutton, fish, and frozen meat items
- Birds of nearly every kind, including parrots and love birds
- Pets such as rabbits, cats, and dogs
- Bird feed, cages, and pet supplies
It’s a genuinely commercial market rather than a curated shopping street, which makes it popular with restaurant owners, poultry traders, and bulk buyers, alongside everyday households and pet enthusiasts.
The market has historically drawn criticism over cleanliness and smell around its meat and poultry sections, something the 2025 upgrade project (covered below) was specifically designed to address.
Tollinton Market Lahore Location
The Tollinton Market Lahore location depends on which market you mean:
Old Tollinton Market sits on Mall Road, immediately next to the Lahore Museum and close to the National College of Arts and Anarkali Bazaar. It’s easy to spot from Mall Road itself, tucked between the Museum and the older commercial stretch toward Anarkali.
New Tollinton Market Lahore is on Jail Road, near the Ferozepur Road junction and close to Mozang Chowk and the Shadman area. This is also referred to informally as Tollinton Market Road, and it functions as a well-known landmark for giving directions in that part of the city.
How to Reach Tollinton Market Lahore
Getting to New Tollinton Market Lahore is straightforward from most parts of the city, since Jail Road and Ferozepur Road are major arteries.
- From Ichhra: Take Ferozepur Road toward Shadman and Jail Road. The market sits near the Jail Road–Ferozepur Road intersection, roughly a 10–15 minute drive.
- From Mall Road or the old city: Head south toward Mozang Chowk, then onto Jail Road.
- By public transport or rickshaw: The market is a well-known local landmark, so mentioning “Tollinton” to any driver is usually enough.
To reach the Old Market on Mall Road, the nearest reference points are the Lahore Museum and Anarkali Bazaar, both well served by Metro Bus and easily reached from central Lahore.
Tollinton Market Timings
Shops at New Market generally open around 8 AM and stay active until about 9 PM. Mornings tend to be quieter, with fresher stock arriving early, while evenings draw larger crowds.
As with most Lahore bazaars, individual shop hours can vary slightly, especially around Friday prayer times, so it’s worth calling ahead if you’re making a special trip for a specific trader.
The Old Market, run as a heritage and exhibition space, follows standard museum and gallery hours rather than bazaar timings, and is best checked directly before visiting for a scheduled exhibition.
The 2025 Upgrade: A Rs 190 Million Rehabilitation
In 2025, the Lahore Development Authority completed a major upgradation and rehabilitation project at New Market, aimed at fixing the cleanliness and infrastructure issues the market had long been known for.
The Rs 190 million project covered:
- A redesigned market facade
- Improved lighting and ventilation systems
- Replacement of internal fiberglass shades
- New flooring throughout the complex
- An upgraded electricity supply system, carried out with LESCO
The LDA also converted a number of existing shops into model units, intended to set a design and hygiene standard for other traders to follow. Heritage voices in the city welcomed the cleaner look but stressed that ongoing maintenance, particularly solid waste management, will determine whether the improvements last.
Real Estate & Commercial Value
Beyond the market itself, the surrounding stretch commonly referred to as Tollinton Market Road is a recognized commercial location in central Lahore. Its position near Jail Road and Ferozepur Road puts it within easy reach of banks, restaurants, colleges, hostels, and hospitals, which has kept commercial plots and properties in the area attractive to investors and business owners over the years.
For anyone tracking Lahore’s inner-city commercial corridors, Tollinton Market Road remains a useful reference point: high footfall, strong connectivity, and a location that has stayed commercially relevant even as the city’s newer commercial hubs have expanded outward.
Visiting Tips
- Go early in the morning for the freshest stock and smaller crowds.
- Bring a mask if you’re sensitive to the smell around the meat and poultry sections.
- Wear closed shoes rather than sandals; the ground can be wet or uneven.
- Bargaining is normal and expected, especially for birds, pets, and bulk purchases.
- If you’re buying live animals or birds, ask about diet and care requirements before you leave.
FAQs
Where is Tollinton Market located?Â
There are two locations. The historic Old Tollinton Market is on Mall Road next to the Lahore Museum. New Tollinton Market Lahore, the working bazaar, is on Jail Road near the Ferozepur Road junction.
What is sold at New Tollinton Market Lahore?Â
Poultry, mutton, fish, frozen meat, birds, and pets, including cats, dogs, and rabbits, along with pet supplies and bird feed.
What are Tollinton Market’s timings?Â
Most shops operate from around 8 AM to 9 PM daily, with mornings generally quieter than evenings.
Is the Old Tollinton Market open to visitors?Â
Yes. It now functions as a heritage exhibition space and craft bazaar, and is open to the public for scheduled exhibitions and events.
How far is Tollinton Market from Ichhra?Â
About 10 to 15 minutes by road via Ferozepur Road toward Shadman and Jail Road.
Conclusion
Tollinton Market Lahore carries more than 150 years of history in one name, split across two very different places. The original Mall Road building tells the story of colonial-era Lahore and its long fight to preserve itself.
The New Market on Jail Road tells a different story altogether: a working, evolving bazaar that just received its biggest upgrade in decades. Whether you’re heading there for business, a pet, or simply to see what the fuss is about, knowing which one you’re looking for is the first step.
This was all about Tollinton Market. For more information on famous markets in Lahore, such as Liberty Market, visit Chakor blogs.
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